Volunteer

March 29, 2012 - 3:59am | webadmin

Thank you so much for your interest in our volunteer program! New Leash On Life owes much of its success to our wonderful volunteers as they play a key role in continuing New Leash On Life's mission of finding loving, responsible homes for abandoned and stray animals.

We have numerous opportunities for volunteers ages 8 and up. Please note that anyone under the age of 16 is not allowed to handle the animals on their own and therefore will not able to fill certain positions such as dog walking, training, or animal care assistant. Please see the job descriptions section for more information on requirements. Additionally, anyone under the age of 16 is required to have a parent or guardian with them at all times on the property and no more than two children can accompany an adult at one time.

We request a one-time $25 membership donation (tax deductible) payable when you begin volunteering. This fee helps to fund the administration of the volunteer program and pays for your NLOL volunteer t-shirt

All New and Regular Volunteers: help out the dogs at the Ranch by cleaning, laundry, dishes, walking dogs (staff will get dogs for you). This position is for Volunteers unable to commit required hours for other positions but would still like to volunteer. Also for volunteers too young for other positions and all new volunteers.

Animal Care Assistant: Assists kennel staff with cleaning and restocking kennel areas and X-pens, feeding rescue animals, and administering medicine where required. Also assists with rescue dog play and socialization activities. Hours available are seven days a week, 8am - 1pm and 3pm – 7pm Monday through Saturday, and 4pm – 7pm on Sundays. This position requires special kennel training and minimum hour commitment of a least one, two-hour shift per month and a minimum overall commitment of 3 months. This position is not available to volunteers under the age of 16. Plus a minimum completed volunteer hours before you are eligible for this position.

Dog Walking: Aid the rescue by walking and socializing with the rescue dogs, cleaning pens and kennel. Hours for this position are 8am – 5pm (sometimes 6 depending on the time of year) Monday – Saturday. This position requires training in dog handling and a minimum hour commitment of at least one, two-hour shift per week for a minimum overall commitment of 3 months. This position is open to volunteers under the age of 16 with parental supervision and minimum hour commitment. Plus a minimum completed volunteer hours before you are eligible for this position.

Fostering: There are three types of foster opportunities: Puppy Raising/Fostering, Shelter Rescue Fostering and Lend A Paw Fostering. Get more information on fostering here or fill out a foster application.

Fundraising: As a non-profit corporation, NLOL relies upon donations from private individuals and corporations. Assistance is always needed in ongoing fundraising projects. These may include but are not limited to: supply drives, monetary fund drives for specific projects, material collection for special projects or for toy making. Reach out to the volunteer coordinator for a complete list of ways to help fundraise for the organization.

Grooming: Aid NLOL staff with brushing and bathing rescue animals. Hours for this position are seven days a week, 8am - 6:30pm Monday – Saturday and 4pm – 7pm on Sunday. This position requires special grooming training and a minimum hour commitment of at least one, two-hour shift per month and a minimum overall commitment of 3 months. This position is available to volunteers under the age of 16 with parental supervision and hour commitment. Plus a minimum completed volunteer hours before you are eligible for this position.

The Lend A Paw Program has been in operation since 2005. The Lend A Paw program bridges the gap between humans and animals by providing assistance not only to homeless animals but to humans in need.

The Lend A Paw program volunteer handler / dog teams visit care facilities, schools for children with special needs, childrens court, missions and veteran groups in greater Los Angeles. The program is designed to train rescue dogs from shelters and train them to be therapy dogs for canine assisted therapy. Some dogs are trained and placed with qualified individuals with special needs to provide personal service.

Under the supervision of the LAP Program Coordinator lendapaw@nlol.org, volunteers will be trained to handle Therapy Dogs for Canine Assisted Theapy visits.

LAP dogs travel to special events and have scheduled vivitation tours offering therapy & companionship. Rescue dogs are specifically trained and adopted to individuals or families in need of support.

LAP training includes obedience training, CGC training and advanced training. There are additional seminars available covering temperament evaluation, behavior and behavior modification, body language and meaning, and problem solving. Commitment is required in service hours, meetings, training sessions and certification.

Getting involved in LAP with your own dog
Volunteers may get involved in the Lend a Paw program with their own dog by first enrolling in an evaluation test to determine the capabiilities of the team and determine if any training is neede. Dogs must exhibit the correct temperament, be obedience trained, pass a Canine Good Citizen test and a field test. (we offer training services for obedience, CGC and field work. Contact lendapaw@nlol.org for membership requirements.

Facility Maintenance: Building and grounds maintenance assistance is needed: includes cleaning, handyman, and coordinating maintenance projects.

Mobile Pet Adoptions (MPAs): Adoptions are held in Los Angeles City and County and surrounding areas. You will hold and care for the dogs at these events, provide information on the dogs and our adoption process to interested parties. An experienced MPA Coordinator will manage the event and provide support to you and the dogs.

Similar to our Mobile Adoptions, NLOL will hold Open Houses to help get the word out about the rescue and find forever homes for the rescue dogs. Specific training must be provided for you to work within this job description whether as a volunteer or as the coordinator. This position requires special open house training and a minimum hour commitment of at least one shift (3 hours) per month and a minimum overall commitment of 3 months. You must be 16 years or older to participate in this position

Pet Education Trainers (P.E.T.) Program: This program organizes field trips for schools to visit the New Leash On Life facility to provide early education on Animal Awareness and Pet Ownership responsibility and provides an interactive experience for children with therapy dogs and to develop and expand their reading skills. New Leash On Life is looking for volunteers who have a background or interest in teaching and working with children. Training is provided.

Puppy socialization / clean-up: This job description is only available as needed. This position would be a good add-on for the Animal Care Assistant or Dog Walking positions because it requires the same training. It requires volunteers to help check-up on mama and puppies, clean up after them, possibly feed them and administer medicine as instructed by staff. This position is available to volunteers under the age of 16 whose parents have attended the Dog Walking training and committed to the hour minimums.Plus a minimum completed volunteer hours before you are eligible for this position.

T.E.A.M (Treat Enrichment at Midday): This position is especially good for our younger volunteers. Help make and provide midday enrichment treats to our rescue dogs. Visits with dogs and walking the dogs is not available in this position however. Hours for this position are Monday – Saturday from 8am -5:00 pm. This position requires training and a minimum hour commitment of one, one-hour shift per month.